In simple words: Anogenital herpes is a viral infection of the genitals and anus, usually caused by the herpes simplex virus. It can cause blisters or sores, fever, and pain. While there's no cure, antivirals can help manage symptoms.

Anogenital herpesviral infections are viral infections of the anus and genitalia, most commonly caused by herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV 2) but recently more cases of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV 1) have been noted. A patient with anogenital herpes may be asymptomatic or have characteristic vesicular (blister–like) or ulcerative lesions (inflamed open sores) in the genital area, fever, weakness, tingling pain at nerve endings, localized swelling, painful urination, discharge from the vagina or urethra, and enlarged lymph nodes. Providers diagnose the condition based on the patient’s history, physical examination, blood tests, viral culture, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Treatment includes oral antiviral drugs such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir; topical antivirals, and oral painkillers. Antiviral drugs do not kill the virus but just suppress it, and recurrences are common once the drugs are discontinued; therefore, patients may be placed on maintenance suppressive therapy indefinitely following a recurrence. Providers may screen patients at high risk for this infection; once diagnosis of herpes is made, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening may also be carried out. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR): A rapid technique for making more copies (amplifying) of a DNA or RNA sequence used in the laboratory.

Example 1: A 25-year-old male presents with painful vesicular lesions on his penis and reports dysuria. Diagnosis of anogenital herpes is confirmed via PCR testing., A 30-year-old female experiences recurrent outbreaks of herpes lesions on her labia. She is prescribed suppressive antiviral therapy to manage the recurrences., An asymptomatic 20-year-old female tests positive for HSV-2 during a routine STI screening. She receives counseling on managing the infection and preventing transmission.

Documentation should include patient history, physical exam findings (description of lesions), laboratory results (viral culture, PCR), and treatment plan.